The Braves were dealt a cruel lesson in 2025: in Major League Baseball, you can never have too much pitching, and when you think you do, you’re probably one injury away from disaster.
In a season marred by injuries and inconsistency, the Braves tumbled to a dismal finish, a far cry from their perennial contender status. It wasn’t just bad luck; it was a systemic unraveling of the rotation. Every starter spent time on the IL. Forty-six different pitchers took the mound in a Braves uniform, the most in franchise history. That’s not a team managing adversity, that’s a team in triage.
Braves Begin Offseason by Shoring Up the Cracks
Which brings us to Connor Thomas, the newest depth acquisition in a quiet but deliberate early offseason for Atlanta. On the surface, it’s a minor-league deal for a recovering left-hander with two disastrous big-league outings to his name. But context matters, and so does timing.
Thomas, 27, is fresh off UCL surgery and won’t be an option until around midseason at best. That works just fine for the Braves, who aren’t looking for a quick fix; they’re looking for a patch in the second half if (and more likely, when) injuries strike again. Thomas isn’t on the 40-man, so there’s no roster pressure. No rush. No risk.
A Rough Debut, But Promising Foundations
But why this particular arm? Well, it’s not just sentimentality, although Thomas, a Georgia Tech product, certainly brings a local angle. Before his rocky MLB debut, 12 runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings, he was dominant in Triple-A. A 2.89 ERA with the Cardinals’ affiliate speaks volumes, especially for a pitcher with a plus changeup and a history of pounding the zone.
The Brewers saw enough to take him in the Rule 5 Draft. That gamble didn’t pay off, and injuries stalled any redemption arc, but the Braves are betting on the long view and the luxury of time.
A Low-Risk Bet on a Local Arm
This is a calculated play. Not for headlines. Not for now. But for the moment when depth becomes destiny, again.
